The Premier League have confirmed the officiating appointments for the matchday six games including Liverpool against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday
Virgil van Dijk gestures towards referee Chris Kavanagh during Liverpool's defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last season
Virgil van Dijk gestures towards referee Chris Kavanagh during Liverpool's defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last season(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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Chris Kavanagh has been selected to referee the hugely anticipated Premier League showdown between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday. It is City's first match since last week's announcement that the club had been found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules over a nine-season period.
The verdict, which City have appealed against, is sure to add to what already promised to be an intense occasion between two title contenders and Kavanagh has now been chosen to take charge of the game.
At the end of last year, the 41-year-old from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, joined Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor - who has since retired - on the elite list of UEFA referees from England.
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It will be the first Liverpool match Kavanagh has took charge of since the 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa on May 15.
That was one of eight Reds Premier League games he officiated last season, including their 3-0 reverse to Man City at the Etihad Stadium on November 9.
While the hosts ultimately ran out emphatic and deserved winners, Liverpool felt a Virgil van Dijk goal, when City were leading 1-0 through Erling Haaland, should have been allowed to stand.
The Reds captain's equaliser was ruled out after Andy Robertson was judged to have been in an offside position and interfering with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's attempts to make the save.
Liverpool contacted refereeing body PGMOL to raise significant concerns about the decision and Van Dijk said afterwards: "I don't know who was on the VAR, Michael Oliver? I think therefore, the officials at the stadium and the couple behind the screen have to make the right decisions for the game.
"Today it was decided the goal wouldn't stand because Andy Robertson was, for any reason, hindering Donnarumma, but I think the goal should have stood, that is all I will say. But I am not the one who is making the decisions.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 9: Andrew Robertson of Liverpool speaks with Referee Chris Kavanagh at half time during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on November 9, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk speak to referee Chris Kavanagh at half-time during Liverpool's defeat at Manchester City(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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"I think [the explanation] was just hindering the goalkeeper or something like that? But someone showed me a clip that Man City scored last year against Wolves and the referee was [Chris Kavanagh] back then as well.
"I don't know, I've already said too much because the thing is, the decision has been made, we lost 3-0 and we don't make excuses in that sense. We lost 3-0, we have to take it on the chin and move on. How tough it is is obviously a hit but we have to keep going."
Assisting Kavanagh at Anfield on Sunday will be Dan Cook and Nick Greenhalgh. Andy Madley is the fourth official while Paul Howard and Nick Hopton are the VAR and assistant VAR respectively.
Meanwhile, Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus have still not returned to Premier League duty after being stood down following their high-profile error as VAR and assistant VAR respectively in the Manchester derby on September 13 in the fourth round of matches.
They awarded a goal to City striker Haaland despite his team-mate Enzo Fernandez being offside and interfering with play. It proved to be the winner.
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